Dollar Philanthropy

What are your biggest questions about grants?

You know the saying "No good deed goes unpunished."  Well, combine that with my crippling disability (the inability to say no to a good cause I like)... I'm doomed.

In my previous life, I used to write grant proposals for educational conferences and submit them to businesses for funding.  That secret has gotten out among my friends and now I am being asked to help with some grant writing.  However, I've never really written anything for nonprofits.

Now I've read a bunch of what the blogging heads have to say about nonprofit grant writing. I still have a lot of questions.  I bet you do too.

So in an effort to reduce my feelings of stupidity about the whole arena, I'd gratefully appreciate you posting your biggest questions you have about grants and grantwriting in the comment section.  If you have great resources, please feel free to post them there too.

Photo credit: Jamuraa

Child Sex Trafficking in the US: An Associated Press Report

Thanks to the Associated Press for not being afraid to shed light on how our children are being trafficked right under our own noses here in the US.

Props to Street Grace for speaking out and advocating for our children.

 

Advice on Fundraising with Children

I'm sharing a link to a great article on getting children involved with fundraising for good causes.

Pearls from the article include:

"There are so many benefits to introducing children to charity fundraising. These can be educational – learning about different countries, the environment, food chains, war – or related to personal development – altruism, motivation, and achievement."

"...it’s important to pitch the message just right so the children aren’t overwhelmed by the injustice and cruelty in the world..."

I would add the following items:

• Do your best to make sure that kids see exactly what their funds are going to do and who they are going to help.  Field trips are a great way to do this.
• Debrief after field trips.  Kids pick up on lots of things, but sometimes are unable to process what they've seen and heard.  Take time to talk about the experience and emotions they may have had.
• Give kids a chance to choose who they want to help and how they should do it.  The lessons will help them develop self-confidence and an increased sense of they can make a difference.

Please chime in here!  What advice do you have when getting kids involved in working for good causes?

Photo Credit: Totalaldo

Altruistic Arcs: Getting the word out about Social Entrepreneurism

There is a documentary film in the works called Altruistic Arcs which will follow three social entreprenuers and tell their stories. I can't wait to see it as it is completely in my wheelhouse.

From their site:

"In the film we will reveal the lives of these social entrepreneurs who through their own dedication and sheer will changed forever the lives of those they reached out to.  Some were trained in one discipline, but when the opportunity arose to help others, reinvented themselves and built an altruistic foundation where before none had existed.  Some recognized their abilities and calling very early on and got to work immediately.  They watched but never waited until support finally caught up to them.  The film will follow the arc of their lives before, during and after their important work in order to fully show the development of each character.  We will also highlight the target groups they seek to assist, and learn of the hardships they have overcome, and what challenges lay ahead of them."

Altruistic Arc is currently using Kickstarter to raise funds for the production of the film.  Or you can use the paypal link on their site. If you'd like to contribute a buck or two, I know it would be greatly appreciated.